Woman Murdered by Daughter-in-Law Over ₹60 Lakh Property Dispute
Nagpur, India: A shocking case of murder in Nagpur, where a 54-year-old woman, Sunita Omkar Raut, was allegedly killed by her daughter-in-law and two cousins in a plot to seize cash and property worth ₹60 lakh. The murder, which occurred in Mitra Nagar, Ajni, came to light 10 days after the victim’s last rites were performed, initially believed to be a natural death.
The accused have been identified as Sunita's daughter-in-law, Vaishali Akhilesh Raut (33), and her cousins, Ritesh Prakash Hiwse (27) and Shrikant aka Sameer Narendra Hiwse (21), both from Bhandar Gondi village in Madhya Pradesh. They were arrested after a thorough investigation by Ajni police.
On August 28, Sunita's elder brother, Bhagwan Bhaurao Mendhe, received a distress call from a neighbor, informing him of Sunita's critical condition. Upon reaching her home, he found his sister unresponsive, with Vaishali claiming that Sunita had died of a heart attack due to high blood pressure. Sunita’s last rites were performed the same day.
However, suspicions arose after neighbors and relatives noticed injury marks on Sunita's neck and face. A neighbor, Aruna Chavan, revealed that two men, believed to be Vaishali’s cousins, were seen entering the house the night of Sunita's death. This raised further doubts about the cause of death.
Adding to the suspicion, Sunita’s niece, Sushma Sontakke, shared a photograph showing a mark on Sunita's cheek. Neighbors and family members reported ongoing disputes between Sunita and Vaishali over financial matters and property, fueling concerns of a possible murder conspiracy.
Further investigation revealed that Vaishali had made phone calls to her cousin, Shrikant Hiwse, on the night of the incident. A recorded call between the two uncovered discussions about visible wounds on Sunita, deepening suspicions. Additionally, a financial transaction made the night before Sunita's death linked the cousins to the crime.
On September 8, Bhagwan filed a formal complaint with Ajni police, which led to the arrest of Vaishali, Ritesh, and Shrikant. The police investigation concluded that the trio had conspired to murder Sunita by strangling her in her sleep and then staging her death as natural. Vaishali reportedly paid ₹2 lakh for the contract killing.
The accused have been charged with murder and conspiracy under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, and further investigations are ongoing.
